The CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad, along with a team of global amphibian experts, has published the second Global Amphibian Assessment Report in the journal Nature. The report reveals that amphibians, including frogs, caecilians, and salamanders, are now the most threatened vertebrates in the world. Out of 8,799 species assessed so far, over 40% of them are facing extinction. The study shows that their situation is getting worse globally.
The scientists found that between 1980 and 2004, disease and habitat losses were responsible for endangering 91% of the amphibian species studied. From 2004 to 2023, climate change and habitat loss were the main reasons behind the deterioration of the status of 39% and 37% of the studied species respectively.
One of the major causes of deterioration in 60% of the threatened species is diseases caused by a fungal pathogen and climate change. The pathogen spreads globally due to the pet and wildlife trades, which causes problems for local amphibian populations. In April 2023, CSIR-CCMB developed a new non-invasive diagnostic technique for detecting the fungal pathogen, which is now available in the Institute’s wildlife diagnostics service.
The findings highlight the importance of monitoring prevalent pathogens and amphibian populations in their habitats in India. It also emphasizes the need to rescue endangered amphibians in Indian zoos.
